Fertilizer distributor



Filed Sept. 5, 1952 ll 1. J ti INVENTOR ATTORN EY Patented Nov. 6, 1934 STATES ATET 33 FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTOR Charles H. Gunn, Burlingame, Calif. Application September 3, 1932, Serial No. 631,501

4 Claims. (01. 1116) This invention relates to a fertilizer distributor Fi 4 is a lo gitudinal view of a modified which punctures the surface of the ground in a puncturing l L uniform manner and distributes liquid fertilizer Referring now more particularly to the charinto the ground as well as over the surface. The acters O feferenoe On the drawi t appfir apparatus is especially adapted for use on l ratus comprises a tubular handle 1 of suflicient 0 although it can be made of general application length to p rm f its use by an p r r in a wherever fertilization is desired. The fertilizer in p it n. lida y disposed v r he compound or concentrate is in solution with a op of t a d 1 S' a C p 2 which is p d relatively large volume of water which is passed With a knurled outer surface to act as a hand to from a supply tank through a hose connection to p. A rod 3 is centrally threaded into the the puncturing device with means provided to cap 2 and depends down through the tubular allow only a predetermined amount of liquid to handle 1. A block 4 mounted in the handle 1 supfiow into the ground during any one puncturing ports a spiral spring 4a on the rod 3 between movement, the cap 2 and the block 4. 15 The device can also be operated with a continual An intake fitting 5 is threaded onto the lower flow, as will appear subsequently. end of the handle 1 and an intake hose 6 is The principal object of my invention is to proconnected by means of the coupling 7. A measurvide a fertilizer distributor which will make 1305- Chamber 8 is disposed betW e l the intake sible immediate fertilization beneath the surface fitting 5 and an outlet fitting 9.

go of the ground and also to prevent an excessive The rod 3 extends down through the tubular aggregation of fertilizer in any one spot on the handle 1 and terminates in the outlet fitting 9. surface and a deficiency of fertilizer in another. On the upper end of the measuring chamber'8 The accepted method today isto spread the fertiis a valve plate 10 formed with a circular openzer over the surface and then to apply the water. ing 11 adapted to be closed by the circular valve This often results in washing the fertilizer from gasket 12 which is positioned by the nuts 13 on the high spots on the ground to the lower spots the rod 3 so that the valve is normally open. with the result that the high spots are not ferti- On the lower end of the measuring chamber 8 is lized and the low spots are surfeited which retards an inverted Valve plate 14 formed with a circular the growth of the lawn or other plant life. Too, opening 15 adapted to be closed by the circular 39 this surface distributing method does not reach valve gasket 16 which is positioned by the nut 1'7 the roots of the plants which, on the other hand, on the lower end of the rod .3 so that the valve is so successfully performed by my invention. Also is normally closed. By this arrangement of parts where the surface distributing method is used it is the upper valve operates within the fitting 5 and easily possible to dispose too much fertilizer in one the lower valve operates within the fitting 9.

spot or a relatively insufficient amount of water Guides 18 prevent any side motion of the rod 3. with the result that the growth may be burned Threaded into the lower opening of the fitting 9 by the fertilizer. is a short pipe 19 with a flange 20 at right angles A further object of the invention is to produce a to its lower portion. This flange is bolted to the simple and inexpensive device and yet one which distributor plate 21 which is preferably of a 40 will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for square design and provided with discharge grooves which it is designed. 22. These grooves are cut at intervals and are These objects I accomplish by means of such provided with discharge holes 23 cut through the structure and relative arrangement of parts as distributor plate 21. will fully app r y a perusal f h f llowin Puncturing pins 24, pointed at the ground 45 specification and claims. contacting end, are bolted through the distributor 1 In the drawing similar characters of reference plate 21 at regular intervals and secured in posiindicate corresponding parts in the several views: tion by the nuts 25. These pins are of varied Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the fertilizer length in order that the fertilizer may reach distributor in use. various depths when the holes are punctured in 50 Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the disthe ground.

tributor. The fertilizer distributor unit is connected to a Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 supply tank 26 as shown in Fig. 1 by the intake showing the course of the fiow of the liquid hose line 6. This supply tank is mounted upon through the device and the pins to puncture the a cart 27 which can easily be moved from place 55 ground. to place. The supply tank is provided with a plug valve 28 at the lower end of the rod 29 which is supported by the bar 30. In this bar are slots 31 and beneath the bar 30 on the rod 29 is a spring 32 supported on the collar 33. A small pin 33a is mounted in the rod under the spring beneath the bar 30. The valve 28 is normally closed.

A modified form of puncturing apparatus is shown in Fig. 4. This fertilizer distributor consists of a singlelarge pin 34' which is hollow and is provided with outlet holes 35.

In operation the supply tank 26 is filled with a liquid fertilizer and the valve 28 opened by raising the rod 29 until the small pin 33a passes through a slot and then the rod 29 is turneduntilthe pin rests on the bar 30, which results in holding the valve 28 in an open position. The liquid then flows through the hose 6 into the fitting 5 and fills the measuring chamber 8';

As the operator pushes the pins 24 into the ground he grasps the cap 2 and forces it down. This closes the upper valve. and: opens the lower valve of the measuring chamber. Thus the measured volume of. liquid fertilizer passes down throughthedistributor'plate 21 and" out through the discharge:holes.23 while-at the same time the flow of the'liquid from the supply tank has been shut off by the closing of the upper valve. The outer discharge holesalso discharge through the top of the plate 2 1'as.at 23a, as well as through the under side. This. overflowassures an even distribution over. the surface while'the discharge beneath-the-plate 21 assures permeation. into the holespunched by the pins 24 If the operator wishes a continual flow it is only necessary to hold the cap 2 in a. partially pushed down position and in. such position the upper and lower valves of themeasuringchamher are open: and the liquid fertilizer. flowslfreely. into the distributor: plate 212 and. thence to the ground.

A. square distributor plate ispreferred because of'the ease to block off: an. area to be fertilized while-a circular plate wouldv tendto leavemany untouched spaces.

When it is desired. to fertilize the ground. at a relatively greater depth than that possible with the device as shownin Fig. 2 withthe short: pins, the'modified-puncturing apparatus, asshown in Fig. 4, is used. The pin 34'is-forced'into theeground to the desired depthand the liquid fertilizer flows through the-pin and out through the holes 35.

The same measuring chamber 8 is used in connection with this pin and therefore a predetermined amount of liquid fertilizer can be released each time the pin punctures the ground. This form of puncturing device would preferably be used in fertilizing plants, shrubs, trees and the like.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that Ihave produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from. the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim; as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A liquid fertilizer distributor comprising a number of puncturing pins, a discharge plate associated with. the pins and provided with bottom. outlet holes, a measuring chamberwith opposed inlet and outlet openings above the pins,

valves to alternately open and close such chamberopenings, means to operate the valves, and means connecting the chamber with the grooves.

2; A liquid fertilizer distributor comprising a chamber having opposed inlet and outlet open- 3. A liquid fertilizer distributor comprising a 41 A. liquid fertilizer distributor comprising a A plate, puncturing pins mounted on and'depending from the plate, and means to discharge liquid from underneath the plate and about the sides thereof. from above the same.

CHARLES H. GUNN. 

